THE LOVE OF THE BILLIONAIRE

li

istening to the murmur of a few hundred wealthy guests filtering into the main hall beyond the curtain. I still co

be sick," a stagehand said, hurr

fine,"

play my piece, walk off, never actually speak to the man whose name was stitched across every bann

a corner backstage looking for the wate

before I coul

had met him, something close to amusement moved acr

pect you to be standing in a hallway t

a moment, eyes moving over the deep green dress I had borrowed from Anne, a

not ne

violin case as if it m

round the handle. I loosened my grip immediately, annoy

dering. I did not ask for the invitation and I definitely

you did

y did yo

started to feel the air between us change, thicken, the way it had the nigh

u play," he said fin

do not personally request any

took a single step closer, close enough that I had to tilt my head back slightly to keep loo

being furious

smile, something more dangerous than a smile. "It was th

otten every lesson the last three weeks had taught me about trusting men who looked at you l

to me," I said, though my voice

y n

I do not

rushed a strand of hair back from my face, his fingers grazing my cheekbone for exactly one second before fa

had spent the last three weeks building walls, swearing off men who thought a look was enough, screaming internally about how much I hat

f it where my pulse was jumping wildly, and he leaned down sligh

different in his voice than it had

s than I care to admit since. But before either of us could close the last inc

I have been look

k into the cold, composed captain the rest of the world knew. A younger version of him rounded the corner, same sharp jaw

y that did not match the redness still cree

tone. "Sorry to interrupt whatever this was. I actually came to

t n

ast two mock exams. You said you would find someone before the seaso

tion layered thick over something that looked almost

is later," Drake sa

who reads off a textbook." Caleb's eyes landed on me suddenly, sharpening with an idea I

cing at Drake, whose jaw had g

aid, a clear war

study music theory, right? Actual

ot see what that

e off, his voice low and furious in a way that m

er reason to say no." Caleb crossed his arms, entirely too pleased with himse

rface, and I realized with a slow, sinking feeling that whatever had just happened between us in that hallwa

o say it, his eyes locking on mine with an intensity that made my sto

being called from the stage, the announcer's voice echoing down the hallway to summon me for my performance, leaving Drake'